Respiratory System Flashcards
What are the organs in the respiratory system responsible for?
gas exchange between the air, lungs, blood and cells of the body
How does the respiratory system move gas molecules from areas of high concentration to low concentration?
Through a process of diffusion
What are the 5 stages of Respiration?
breathing, external respiration, circulation, internal respiration, cellular respiration
What are the two components of breathing?
Inhalation and exhalation
What is external respiration?
exchanging oxygen from the lungs to the blood + exchanging carbon dioxide from the blood to the lungs
How does external respiration occur?
Through diffusion
What is circulation?
the movement of dissolved gases by the blood to and from cells around our body
What is internal respiration?
exchanging carbon dioxide and oxygen between our blood and the cells in our body
How does internal respiration occur?
Through diffusion
What is cellular respiration?
Nutrients being broken down in the mitochondria and released in the cell
What characteristics must the respiratory surface have?
thin walled, moist, contact with oxygen-rich environment (alveoli), close to transport system, large surface area
What two main things does the human respiratory system consist of?
Passageways that transport air to and from the lungs, air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs (alveoli)
What are the main 8 parts of the respiratory system?
Nose, nasal cavity, sinuses, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchus/bronchioles, alveoli
What role does the nose play in the respiratory system?
primary entrance for air, nose hairs act as a filter for foreign matter to ensure air entering our lungs have less debris
What role does the nasal cavity play in the respiratory system?
the nasal conchae divides the cavity into two passageways, mucous membrane dilters, warms and moistens incoming air, particles are trappled in the mucous and hairs
What role does the sinuses play in the respiratory system?
spaces in the bone of the skull tha topen into the nasal cavity, lined with mucous membrane
What role does the Pharynx play in the respiratory system?
common passageway for air and food
Where is the pharynx located?
behind your mouth (back-up airway), between nasal cavity and larynx
What role does the larynx play in the respiratory system?
passageway for air, prevents foreign objects from entering the trachea. contains vocal chords which produce sounds by vibrating as air passes
What is the larynx made of?
Muscles and cartilage, an enlargement at the top of the trachea
What role does the trachea play in the respiratory system?
long u-shaped tube that connects your larynx to your lungs. divides into right and left bronchi, mucous lining and cilia filters the air
What role does the bronchus/bronchioles play in the respiratory system?
branching tubes that gradually become smaller to increase surface area for gas exchange. lined with mucous that filters foreign particles and dissolves gases
What role does the alveoli play in the respiratory system?
basic respiratory units, where gas exchange takes place (through diffusion).
Where is the alveoli located?
at the end of the bronchioles
